OhIO 901
05-27-2004, 05:58 AM
There are times when I will go 3 or 4 days with no sleep at all. It is extremely difficult to fall asleep, and if I do fall asleep, 2 or 3 hrs sleep is all I will get. Needless to say, I am very, very tired all the time. I think I have more than 1 sleeping disorder, but the most troubling symptoms I have are hyptogogic jerks. These jerks wake me instantly, and I believe they are occurring just as I am falling asleep. Sometimes its my right arm, sometimes its my left arm. Sometimes it is one leg or the other or both. These jerks happen in my sternum area, in the chest area, and in my head. Last night, while watching tv sitting up in bed, my head jerked backward, and i flung the remote against the wall. I have been putting up with these episodes for 10 years or more, so they dont scare me anymore, they just really piss me off. My doctor has had me on Ambien for the last 2 years for insomnia, but I havent really told him about the jerks, because I have so many other health issues that need to be addressed. My question to all you wonderful people------Is there anything over the counter that has helped you? I already take enough vicodin, oxycontin, xanax, effexor. and really don want to have to take some sort of knock out drug(yet).
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smackliet
05-27-2004, 02:52 PM
There are times when I will go 3 or 4 days with no sleep at all. It is extremely difficult to fall asleep, and if I do fall asleep, 2 or 3 hrs sleep is all I will get. Needless to say, I am very, very tired all the time. I think I have more than 1 sleeping disorder, but the most troubling symptoms I have are hyptogogic jerks. These jerks wake me instantly, and I believe they are occurring just as I am falling asleep. Sometimes its my right arm, sometimes its my left arm. Sometimes it is one leg or the other or both. These jerks happen in my sternum area, in the chest area, and in my head. Last night, while watching tv sitting up in bed, my head jerked backward, and i flung the remote against the wall. I have been putting up with these episodes for 10 years or more, so they dont scare me anymore, they just really piss me off. My doctor has had me on Ambien for the last 2 years for insomnia, but I havent really told him about the jerks, because I have so many other health issues that need to be addressed. My question to all you wonderful people------Is there anything over the counter that has helped you? I already take enough vicodin, oxycontin, xanax, effexor. and really don want to have to take some sort of knock out drug(yet).
smackliet
05-27-2004, 02:59 PM
Effexor is a nightmare...it may be making everything worse. I took it for a while and found out the hard way that there are some really wild side effect. It you miss a dose or are ever a few hours late taking it dont be surprized if you get vertigo, and the bad news is that when you go off of it you could have vertigo for months even if you taper. And then there is chronic diahrea. As far as the Jerking it sounds pretty seriouse. I would suggest a Nurolagest ASAP. By the way I know several people who have baddle effexer withdrawls over and over and cant take and end up taking it again. There is also alot of mood swings durring withdrawl. do a search for effexer withdraw and side effects. There are olot of folks trying to get it taken off the market.
I had vertigo for nearly 3 months but then i met some one who had it for a year. Crazy stuff.
I had vertigo for nearly 3 months but then i met some one who had it for a year. Crazy stuff.
jeh rpsgt
05-30-2004, 01:34 PM
There are times when I will go 3 or 4 days with no sleep at all. It is extremely difficult to fall asleep, and if I do fall asleep, 2 or 3 hrs sleep is all I will get. Needless to say, I am very, very tired all the time. I think I have more than 1 sleeping disorder, but the most troubling symptoms I have are hyptogogic jerks. These jerks wake me instantly, and I believe they are occurring just as I am falling asleep. Sometimes its my right arm, sometimes its my left arm. Sometimes it is one leg or the other or both. These jerks happen in my sternum area, in the chest area, and in my head. Last night, while watching tv sitting up in bed, my head jerked backward, and i flung the remote against the wall. I have been putting up with these episodes for 10 years or more, so they dont scare me anymore, they just really piss me off. My doctor has had me on Ambien for the last 2 years for insomnia, but I havent really told him about the jerks, because I have so many other health issues that need to be addressed. My question to all you wonderful people------Is there anything over the counter that has helped you? I already take enough vicodin, oxycontin, xanax, effexor. and really don want to have to take some sort of knock out drug(yet).
2 years is a very long time to be on Ambien. I wouldn't recommend anyone take it longer than a couple weeks. With all the meds you listed, the jerks are no suprise. Benzodiazepines, antidepressants, they can all cause some undesireable side effects and make your sleep worse. I recommend finding a board certified sleep physician, completing a sleep diary for a couple weeks, and having the dr. evaulate everything.
2 years is a very long time to be on Ambien. I wouldn't recommend anyone take it longer than a couple weeks. With all the meds you listed, the jerks are no suprise. Benzodiazepines, antidepressants, they can all cause some undesireable side effects and make your sleep worse. I recommend finding a board certified sleep physician, completing a sleep diary for a couple weeks, and having the dr. evaulate everything.
OhIO 901
05-31-2004, 06:30 AM
Thanks for your replies. It has meant more to me than can be imagined. The Effexor has never done a thing for me as far as depression goes, so I have decided to quit, however, I am going to taper off of it very slowly. And when I say slowly, I mean very, very, very, slowly. I have stopped taken Ambien, per doctors advice, and per the advice of you on this board, as it does not work anymore either. My doctor told me to take my xanax right before bedtime, and for 4 straight nights, I have fallen right to sleep, with no jerks at all. This is the first time in years I have had 4 straight nights of no sleep jerks. I usually take advice with a grain of salt, but your suggestions seemed to have logical reasoning behind them, so I tried it. So far it has worked(thank god). I was a mess. Again, to you who took the time to be concerned enough to reply to me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now, I must begin my next nightmare, and file for social security disability. Any advice in that area would be wonderful. I need a 2 level fusion done, and from the outcomes of my first 2 laminectomies, I WILL NOT have another surgery unless absolutely necessary. This topic probably would belong on the disabilities board, so I will post it over there. I certainly hope you can offer hope and insight on that subject too. One more time, THANKS, and may the bluebird of happiness fly right up your nose.
jeh rpsgt
05-31-2004, 07:41 AM
Be careful with the Xanax too, it's habit-forming.